Automatic machine for flax dressing



June 4, 1929. c, TER E ET AL AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR FLAX DRESSING Filed Feb. 16, 1928 Patented June 4, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,7153% PATENT QFFICE.

CLOVIS LETERME, OF YPRE-S, BELGIUM, AND MAURICE LETEB'ME, OF BRIIS SOUS I FORGES, FRANCE.

AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR FLAX DRESSING.

Application filed February 16, 1928, Serial No. 254,879, and in Belgium February 16, 1927.

The present invention has for its object the provision of an automatic machine for braking flax or other textile plants of this kind wherein the work is efiected in several phases; the braking is first made on a part of the length, next to the root-stock for instance, then on the other end, owing to a mechanism of transport and of turning about of the fibres comprising a single set of dress ingor braking drums and a system of two pairs of counter-blades.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of the machine,

F ig. 2 is an elevation, partly in section, on a larger scale.

The machine comprises a principal drum 1 having for instance a diameter of 30 cm. and a length of 90 cm. This drum effects an alternative rotation-movement according to a well determined law and the movement is obtained by an appropriate mechanism. Above and below this drum 1 are disposed two endless belts 3, 4 which engage therewith and also respectively engage pairs of rollers 5, 6, 7, 8. The belt 3 is stretched by the weight of the rollers6 and 20, the belt 41 by the weight of a roller 8 the bearings of which are in the upper ends of arms 8 which arms at their lower ends are pivotally mounted on a shaft 0; the said belt 1 can be lifted oil so asto rest upon the principal drum 1 by the means of a roller 8 which is supported by an articulated system. The rollers 5 and 7 rest upon the roller 1 with interposition ofthe belts 3 and 4t owing to an articulated system comprising a crank lever 12 supporting a counterweight 13 and oscillating round a stationary axis 12, a rod 12*, and an articulated lever system 12.

This articulated system maintains also the rollers 5 and 7 in contact with a small roller 9. A deflector (l of a special form is disposed between the rollers 9 and 1 and is maintained in permanent contact with the latter.

In order to increase the adherence of the flax etc. to the rollers 1 and 9 and tothe bolts 3 and 1, the roller 9 is grooved.

1 Opposite to the rollers 5, 7 and 9 are disposed three counter cutting boards 10, 1O and attached in a regulable manner to the trame of the machine. The flax accompanying the rollers passes between the central counter cutting-board and the one or the other of the extreme counter-boards in order to be submitted at the exit to the action of the flax dressing or braking board 11.

In order to give to the counter-boards 10, 10 and 10 the necessary sharpness, they are built in the following manner: The middle counter-board 10 has a rectangular section (Fig. 2), the angle whereof are slightly broken away; by this means the stems of the flax are held between the counter-boards in an approximately horizontal position. The other two counter-boards have a special section (Fig. 2) so as to permit a more close or tight junction with the envelop of the machine; moreover, owing to the incurved. form of these counter-boards, the projection and exhausting of the small blades and dust from the interior of the machine are notably di minished. The projection plates 6 complete the mechanism.

Between the rollers 6 and 8 and 1 and is fixed to the standard 16 a guiding plate 19 for the flax stems during certain phases of working and moreover a lifting off mechanism l9 An endless feeding belt 18 connects the rollers 20 and 21 and the workman distributes the flax, etc. on this belt, the stems being disposed perpendicularly to the axle of the chief roller 1.

Said. standard 16 also supports the rollers 20 and 21 and is mounted for oscillation around the axle of the roller 21.

An articulated system 17, connected to the axle of the roller 6 by a rod 17, can act on the frame 16 in order to approach the roller 90 to the roller 6 (a position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1).

The principal drum 1 of the transporting mechanism of the flax etc., described here above, executes an alternative rotating movement which can be decomposed into six phases of the complete cycle:

(1) A slow rotation in clockwise direction (2) A stop of a certain duration;

A rapid rotation in a counterclockwise direction, as stated at (1) (4) A slow rotation in the same direction;

(5) A stop of a certain duration;

(6) A rapid rotation in the direction as at (1) then the cycle re/commences.

To the time (1) corresponds the entrance of the flax etc, i. e. of the ends near to the roots, into the action zone of the flax dressing or braking drums until the middle of their length;

To the time (2) corresponds the braking or dressing properly of the said ends, near the roots, by the boards 11;

To the time corresponds the rapid returning or escaping of the flax from, the acting-zone of the dressing drums and its turning about;

To the time (4) corresponds the entrance of the not yet broken flax ends (nibs, points) into the acting field of the dressing drums;

To the time corresponds the dressing or braking properly of the remaining part of the stems;

To the time corresponds the rapid exit of the broken flax and the rapid entrance between the roller 1 and the belt of a new quantity of flax distributed on the belt 18.

In order to assure a better transport of the stems, the roller 9 executes an alternative rotation movement of the equivalent circumferential amplitude as the roller 1. At this end, said rollers are connected by an appropriate transmission system, such as shown for instance in the drawing, and which comprises a toothed gear 33 keyed to the axle of the roller 1., an intermediate toothed gear 34 and a toothed wheel 35 keyed on the axle of the roller 9.

On the other side the roller 20 is advantageously moved by the wheel 33 when the roller occupies the position shown in dotted lines (Fig. 1), which corresponds to the 6th and 1st phases of the movement of the roller 1 which rotates in this moment in a clockwise direction. At this end the gear is continuously in engagement with a toothed gear 36 placed on a stationary axis. The roller 20 is fixed on a gear 37 which comes into engagement with the toothed gear 36 when the said roller is raised.

The driving of the roller 1 is effected without strokes between the differentorgans in the moment of the changing of direction of rotation by means of a mechanism comprising substantially a crank 26 which receives a uniform rotation movement in a clockwise direction by means of toothed gears 22, 23. A connecting rod 29 articulated to the crank 26 drives a toothed gear 30 by the intermediary of a roll-er 29 mounted on the extremity of said rod 29 and which operate in a slot f of a pendulum oscillating on a. crank pin m of the toothed gear 30. The said gear engages the toothed gear 33 keyed on the axle of the drum 1.

According to Fig. 1, the crank pin m is shown at the end of its stroke. On the axle of the gear 30 is loosely mounted an eccentric disk a, normally held in its vertical position by a spring 1. The crank 26 makes oscillate, by intermediary of the rod 29 and of the roller 29 the pendulum p round the pin m. This pendulum has two branches, the one whereof comes into contact with the excentric disk or sheave 0 which oscillates off) nviaves round its axle 0, in extending the spring r articulated at a on the sheave 0 (position in dotted lines, Fig. 1). Ata certain moment the spring prevents the said sheave to displace it more, as the pin m starts to move in counterclockwise direction while the inspected branch of the pendulum 7) rolls on the sheave 0. During this period of sliding movement, occurs an acceleration of the movement of the pin on and consequently of the whole system for the transport of flax etc. It is self-understanding that this acceleration is effected without any stroke. Under the action of the spring 1", the sheave c returns progressively towards its vertical position, reducing in an appreciable manner the eliorts to which are submitted the diiferent organs. The entire mechanism continuing its rotating movement at an accelerated velocity, it arrives a moment wherein the roll-er 29 will raise within the slot f, producing thus the first phase of the movement until the crank arrives at its left dead center. The second phase (stop) occurs and then the following periods are again repeated, but in opposite direction (3rd, 4th and th phases).

The roller bears against the roller 6 and removes itself from the latter by means of an articulated system 17, controlled by the rod 27 and the cam keyed on the shaft of the gear 28. This excentric disk is calculated in such manner that the roller 20 rests upon the roller 6 during the sixth and the first period.

The roller 8 is pushed down and raised by the intermediary of a frame 14 oscillating round the stationary point 14: and is controlled or driven by the rod 28 moved by the cam 24. This rod provided with a roller 28 which bears against said cam, is connected by a rod 28 to a stationary articulation 28 of the frame of the machine. The roller 8 remains in its raised position and lying against the drum 1 during the third period (turning it sinks then progressively during the 4th period and remains in this lower position during the 5th, 6th, 1st and 2nd phases. That is. during the 6th and 1st time during which the broken flax eta, smoothly deposed on the belt 4, leave the machine.

The operation of the machine is as follows:

The flax etc. is first spread on the belt 18. the stems being placed perpendicularly to the axis of the drum 1. At the moment wherein the chief drum 1 terminates its movement in the direction opposite to that of the hands of a watch, the roller 20 comes into touch with the roller 6 and the flax, preliminary spread on the belt 18, is pressed between two rollers. As the drum 1 rotates then in an opposite direction, the flax moves towards the right (Fig. 1) and enters between the drum 1 and the belt 3. From this movement the roller 20 withdraws itself from the roller 6, rendering thus stationary the belt 18. The flax continuing its travel, passes between the superior counter-boards 10, 10 in order to en ter into the acting zone of the dressing or braking boards 11, which act on the flax plants until the middle of their length. The movement of the principal drum 1 is then re versed, the flax returns back, but the roller 20, which has been lowered and the roller 8 which has been raised at 8, cause the flax to engage between the drum 1 and the belt 4; the extremity of the unbroken stems advances to the right, engages into the two inferior cutting-boards 10, 10 and is already exposed to the action of the rollers 11 in that moment wherein the broken opposite end leaves them; The flax continues its travel until it has been broken on its whole length. During this time, the part dressed the first and which has been strongly pressed between the chief drum 1 and the drums 9 and 5, is taken away from the drum 1 by the bent iron sheet 19" lying against the said drum. The drum 1 rotates then in opposite direction and whilst the roller 8 sinks down, the flax is exhausted by the belt 4 so that a workman can collect it in a very easy manner. At the same time a fresh quantity of flax, initially spread on the belt 18, advances towards the dressing drums and the working cycle recommences as described hereinabove.

During the function of the machine, one observes that the axle 50 and y, on which turn the arms 6 and t supporting the brakingboards 11, are loaded with flax waste etc., at this extent that after a certain time, it is necessary to stop the machine in order to remove this waste. It happens moreover that this waste contains fibres torn off from the t'ansporting mechanism; the free ends of these fibres having been whipped against the shafts a y and have wound them round those which has determined the sudden tearing. Thus waste is produced, which is susceptible to injure the function of the machine.

In order to remedy to this inconveniency, the shafts a: and 2 are equipped. with pieces of hard wood, the section whereof is shown in Fig. 1; these pieces being mounted on the shafts so as to leave at a certain moment the trajectories A and B of the dress ing boards.

This new arrangement prevents the waste from winding around the shafts m and y by reason of the increased peripheral length of the pieces a.

Moreover the whipping of the free ends of the fibres are reduced, as the ends meet with the plan and smooth surface of the pieces a.

The support of the cutting-boards 11 are provided with edges of hard wood 11 of rounded off section. These projections prevent the flax to wind round the blades 11. The latter are steel blades of small thick ness, 2- mm. for instance and may be replaced conveniently and with small expenses.

The dressing or braking may be regulated according to the quality of flax etc. by approaching or removing the counter-boards 10, 10" and 10' with respect the one to the others and the trajectories A, B of the cutting blades 11.

l Ve claim:

1. A flax dressing machine of the type consisting of a main drum, a pair of endless aprons one on the upper side and the other on the lower side of said drum, a front roller and a rear roller for each of said endless aprons, an endless conveyor belt arranged to discharge against the front side of said drum and having a front roller and a rear roller; a pressing roller opposite the rear side of the main drum and between the rear rollers of said endless aprons and engaged with said endless aprons, cutting boards in rear of the last named roller, revoluble braking elements coacting with said cutting boards and means to re volve said main drum alternately in reverse directions and provide periods of rest there for and hence correspondingly operate said endless aprons; a bent plate 19 arranged in rear of the discharge portion of the said conveyor belt and spaced from the front side of said main drum and a bent plate 19 spaced from the rear side of the first named bent plate and arranged near the front side of the main drum.

2. A flax dressing machine of the type claimed in claim 1, in which the cutting boards comprise a central blade of rectangular section having oppositely curved recesses in its upper and lower sides near its rear end and upper and lower blades reversely arranged and each comprising a curved portion opposite the rear roller of one of the endless aprons and an arm at an'angle to said curved portion and converging rearwardly toward said center blade.

3. A flax dressing machine ofthe type claimed in claim 1, including projection blades 6 bearing against the rear curved sides of said upper and lower cutting boards.

4. A flax dressing machine of the type claimed in claim 1, in which the cutting boards are adjustable toward and from the pairs of rotation of the braking blades.

5. A flax dressing machine of the type claimed in claim 1, including means for causing the rear roller of the conveyor belt to participate in the rotation of the main drum when said rear roller is raised and thereby also cause said endless conveyor to be controlled as to its direction of movement by the various phases of movement of said main drum.

6. A flax dressing machine of the type claimed in claim 1, in which the means for imparting movement to the main drum and to the conveyor belt and the endless aprons includes a driving gear geared to the main drum and having a crank pin, a pendulum element pivoted on said crank pin and having a slot and also a pair of spaced arn'ls, an eccentric disc on the shaft of said driving gear arranged between the arms of said pendulum elementfor engagement alternately therewith, a springs active to normally hold said disc in one direction, a rod actuated by said eccentric disc to raise and lower the front 10 roller of the lower endless apron and a rod In testimony whereof we have hereunto set 15 our hands this first day of February, A. D. 1928.

C. LETERME. M. LETERME. 

